Early Easter

Valentine's

I like giving handmade valentines rather than bought. So this year, Audrey wrote "Be Mine" and "U.S.A." (I think she had Olympic fever) on a heart cut-out and then I took her picture holding it while she wore her heart sweatshirt. I added a "Happy Valentine's Day" in Photoshop, uploaded the file to Shutterfly, and picked up our Valentine's a few hours later. She decorated the back with stickers, including some chocolate scratch and sniff. I think they turned out swell.

I'm the room mother for the Valentine's Party and it has been fun coming up with ideas. I made super hero masks out of felt and have ziploc baggies full of stick-on felt shapes and sparkles for the kids to decorated them. I'm going to play up the idea of love and kindness being the best super powers of all. We'll see how that flies. I also sewed two bean bags for each kid and we'll do bean bag tosses and relays.

On a sad note, Freddy II, the betta fish died Sunday night.  This time we elected to break the news to Audrey rather than fake another trip to the vet with a dead fish. She was confused mostly. She didn't understand why she couldn't keep the dead Freddy in a box in her room. Then she was upset because she was overwhelmed on the decision of what pet to get next. Yeesh. Finally, she decided that burying him in the back yard was the best option. So in the sub-zero night, she and Lindsey buried a glassine envelope with our little lifeless fish a love note from Audrey.

Cherry pie. Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day better.  

Love to you and yours.

xoa

Wrapping The Month

I may post a time or two before the end of the year. But December has seen a lot of celebrating so I'm taking it kind of easy from here on out. Peace on earth. Love to you.

Lately

Happy Birthday

Not much activity on the blog over the last week or so with packing and moving. At 8am on Friday, the movers arrive. However, last Sunday, we managed to steal away to Warrenton. My mom had a little get together because my cousin Joe, his wife Ashley, and their baby Rilynne, were in town from Houston. None of us had seen the baby yet. It was a sweet affair and my mom surprised me with my favorite white buttermilk cake for my birthday (which is today).

Ava holding baby sister Sydnie. Baby Rilynne. And our Audrey.

My aunts and uncles, all together.
The Downing Girls: Sisters Debbie, Glenda (mom), Myra, Karen

The hubs: Rob, Richard (dad), Roger, Larry

Me and mama...our birthdays just four days apart.

National Pie Day 2013

Today is National Pie Day, which I try to somehow commemorate on this site each year. Pie is a big part of most celebrations in my family. The most recent pie I made was a blackberry pie for a Christmas event with family. It was so delicious, I had it for breakfast. Audrey thought that was hilarious. What a great example I am am. (See sugar-induced, shaky-handed photo below.)

Today, our house sold! But instead of pie, I had a piece of flourless chocolate torte to celebrate. I'll make up for it at some point, I'm sure. Wishing you a big slice.

Mine

"Mommy, I love you more than lollipops and lemonade." Hearing your kid say this with 100% sincerity is pretty much the best feeling ever. I sure do love these two. That is all for today.

Wrapping The Week

We closed on the house (yay). I got pink eye followed by a massive head cold that won't go away (boo). Am feeling a little behind the curve in the new year but will catch up soon. I'm wrapping the week with some photos that sort of capture the season. Happy Weekend. Love to all.

Wrapping The Week

This week, my baby turned five. I contemplated this as she enjoyed a three hour play date with her little friend Sydney and I assembled two apple crumb pies for the freezer. All my best thinking is done while I'm cooking. Perhaps too often, I ask myself, "How did I get so lucky?" And then I start to experience some anxiety - thinking how fleeting it all is - how everything that makes me feel most secure, most happy in this world could be gone in an instant. Will be gone in an instant. Every relationship I have is a gift. And all I can do is love as fully as possible while I'm here. Nine Eleven really rocked me. But that was before I was married and had a child. Sandy Hook at Christmas time. The world spins. And so do I. Praying for peace, civility, common sense, and compassion - for all of us. I'm unplugging from this blog through the end of the year and meditating. Love to you and yours this season.

Gun 'Control' is Not Enough

In Defense of Children

Brady Center to End Gun Violence

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Friday we kicked off the birthday celebrations with her school party. Saturday, her craft party with five friends. Then her first sleepover. Um, and her official birthday is still nine days away. We put up the tree on Sunday, but that was sort of anti-climactic. We were all in bed by 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.

This afternoon she said, "Mommy, my heart is bumping because I love you so much." I can't get enough of this kid's awesome.